The Rhythm Variations
As a form, variations have long fascinated me. While studying trombone I encountered many examples of theme with variations in the literature, most of these written by performers more interested in virtuosic displays than in fully wringing the musical possibilities from a tune. I spent a lot of my practice time determining which notes and figures in each variation corresponded with which notes in the original melody. When I began to study composition, I worked with this form to learn my craft. It was an effective way to explore efficient and creative use of melodic material.
